Jason Day produced the best round of his career and tied a course record, but still fell just short of a playoff as American Patrick Reed claimed the US PGA Tour Tournament of Champions.
Day shot a blistering 11-under-par 62 on the final day at the Plantation Course, joining KJ Choi, Graeme McDowell and Chris Kirk as record holders, to rocket up to 20 under 272 for the tournament, but ultimately settled for a tie for third.
Overnight leader Jimmy Walker (69) and fellow American Reed (67) finished regulation at 21-under par before Reed prevailed with a birdie on the first sudden death playoff hole. Reed, who holed out from 80 yards on the 16th hole for eagle and birdied the last in front of Walker in regulation to overcome Day’s mark, claimed his fourth victory at just 24-years-old with an 18-foot birdie putt in the playoff.
“I gave myself a chance and was lucky enough to make it. The confidence level is really high,” Reed said.
Walker had a chance to win it with birdie on the final hole in regulation but left his 18-foot chance short, and then opened the door for Reed in sudden death after going over the green in three shots and leaving his fourth five feet from the hole.
American Russell Henley (67) and Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama (70) shared third with Day at 20 under. Day’s 11-under total is his best ever score on tour and represents the two-time winners first course record as he hit 17 of 18 greens in regulation and needed just 25 putts.
“Today just felt like I was the best player in the world,” Day said.
“Playing and putting like that it was special out there. It was kind of like a blur. When I got out there and I started playing good I was thinking maybe I can shoot a 59, but unfortunately I’ll have to settle for 62.”
The 27-year-old Australian opened with four pars before catching fire, twice making four birdies on the trot and getting 11 birdies in his final 14 holes.
He now heads to next week’s Sony Open in Honolulu confident he has blown out the off-season cobwebs, especially with his putter having needed 32, 30 and 31 putts in the first three rounds.
“It was great to get some putts go in after the early rounds. I was stressing about that last night, Day said.
“But they started rolling in and then it was like auto-pilot. I know that comes from all the hard work so it’s nice to get off to a great start to the year.”
Matt Jones was the next best Australian at 14 under in a tie for 11th while Steven Bowditch (-10, T22), John Senden (-9, T25) and Geoff Ogilvy (-8, T27) rounded out the Australian efforts in the 34-man winners only field.
